Clip device for securing a diaphragm hunting call and the like

ABSTRACT

A clip device for securing an item is provided. The clip device is securable to an object. The clip device comprises a main body having a top surface, a bottom surface, a front edge, and a back edge. A supporting wall extends from the front edge in general direction away from the top surface. A clip mechanism extends from the supporting wall over the top surface for securing the clip device to an object. An item retaining mechanism extends substantially along the back edge for releasably securing the item within the lip portion adjacent and against the bottom surface of the main body.

The present application is a continuation-in-part and claims priority of pending patent application Ser. No. 10/706,806, filed on Nov. 12, 2003, entitled “Clip Device for Securing a Diaphragm Hunting Call and the Like, and claims priority of provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/426,143, filed on Nov. 14, 2002, entitled “Clip Device for Securing a Diaphragm Hunting Call and the Like”.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to a clip device for securing a diaphragm hunting call and the like and, in particular, it relates to a clip device which can be releasably secured to a hat or other garment for holding a diaphragm hunting call and the like.

2. Description of the Prior Art

During hunting activities, a hunter typically carries a tremendous amount of gear and other hunting equipment. For quick response and reaction, it is important to maintain the essential gear such as weapons and hunting calls directly on the hunter to allow easy and quick access to the gear. If a hunter has to search and find the essential gear, valuable time is wasted and the opportunity for bagging the desired game can be lost.

In the past, the hunter has typically maintained his or her diaphragm hunting call in his or her pocket, either in the pants or in the coat or jacket. Since many hunting activities are conducted in colder weather, a hunter usually wears gloves or other hand coverings to maintain warmth and comfort. If a hunter has to fumble and search for his or her hunting call in his or her pocket, he or she must first remove the gloves and retrieve the hunting call from the pocket location. Once retrieved, the hunter uses the hunting call, places the hunting call back in the pocket, puts on the gloves, and readies his gun or rifle. This procedure causes valuable time to be lost and the opportunity for hunting success is reduced.

Accordingly, there exists a need for a clip device for securing a diaphragm hunting call and the like which can be easily secured to a hat or other garment. Additionally, a need exists for a clip device for securing a diaphragm hunting call and the like which allows a hunter to access his or her diaphragm hunting call in an expeditious manner. Furthermore, there exists a need for a clip device for securing a diaphragm hunting call and the like which protects the diaphragm hunting call from being damaged or otherwise injured.

SUMMARY

The present invention is a clip device for securing an item. The clip device is securable to an object. The clip device comprises a main body having a top surface, a bottom surface, a front edge, and a back edge. A supporting wall extends from the front edge in general direction away from the top surface. A clip mechanism extends from the supporting wall over the top surface for securing the clip device to an object. An item retaining mechanism extends substantially along the back edge for releasably securing the item within the lip portion adjacent and against the bottom surface of the main body.

In addition, the present invention includes a method for securing an item to an object. The method comprises providing a main body, forming a lip around at least a portion of the main body, cantilevering at least one arm over the main body, scoring the main body, manipulating the main body onto the object; releasably securing the object between the main body and each arm, and releasably securing the item within the lip portion.

The present invention further includes an assembly for securing an item to an object. The assembly comprises a main body having a top surface and a bottom surface, clip means for securing the clip device to an object, and item retaining means for releasably securing the item to the main body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view illustrating a clip device for securing a diaphragm hunting call and the like, constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view illustrating the clip device for securing a diaphragm hunting call and the like of FIG. 1, constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view illustrating the clip device for securing a diaphragm hunting call and the like of FIG. 1, constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4 is bottom plan view illustrating the clip device for securing a diaphragm hunting call and the like of FIG. 1, constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view illustrating the clip device for securing a diaphragm hunting call and the like of FIG. 1, constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 6 is an elevational front view illustrating the clip device for securing a diaphragm hunting call and the like of FIG. 1, constructed in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 7 is an elevational rear view illustrating the clip device for securing a diaphragm hunting call and the like of FIG. 1, constructed in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the present invention is a clip device, indicated generally at 10, for securing a diaphragm hunting call (not shown) or the like. Preferably, the clip device 10 of the present invention is molded from a durable plastic material having sufficient strength and flexibility for mounting to a garment (not shown). However, it is within the scope of the present invention to construct the clip device 10 from other materials including, but not limited to, metal, fiberglass, ceramics, resin, wood, etc.

It should be noted that while the clip device 10 of the present invention has been described hereto and will be described hereafter as securing a diaphragm hunting call, a person skilled in the art will understand that the clip device 10 of the present invention can be used to secure other objects. In fact, the clip device 10 of the present invention is suitable for securing a wide variety of essentials such fishing lures, i.e., flies, fishing line, and the like, flashlights, emergency medical supplies, etc.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 4, the clip device 10 of the present invention has a top surface 12, a bottom surface 14, a front edge 16, and a curved back edge 18. A supporting wall 20 extends from the front edge 16 of the top surface 12 in general direction away from the top surface 12. The supporting wall 20 can carry advertisements or endorsements 22 thereon, if so desired.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 5, the clip device 10 of the present invention additionally includes a first clip arm 24 and a second clip arm 26 extending from the supporting wall 20 in a cantilever manner over the top surface 12 of the clip device 10. The first clip arm 24 is preferably spaced from the second clip arm 26 with each clip arm 24, 26 having a protruding portion 28 for maintaining the position of the clip device 10 relative to the mounting location, such as a brim (not shown) of a hat (not shown) or other garment. The first clip arm 24 and the second clip arm 26 are free from contact with the top surface 12 of the clip device 10 which allows the clip device 10 to be easily releasably secured to the hat without requiring the user to manipulate or otherwise open the clips. Furthermore, having two clip arms 24, 26 provide more secure mounting of the clip device 10 to the hat in case the clip device 10 as compared to only one clip arm. Actual mounting of the clip device 10 to the brim of the hat will be described in further detail below.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4, the clip device 10 of the present invention includes lip portion 30 extending substantially along the curved back edge 18 of the clip device 10 and defining a receiving slot 31. The receiving slot 31 is preferably tapered to frictionally hold the diaphragm hunting call therein. The lip portion 30 and the receiving slot 31 allows a diaphragm hunting call to be releasably secured within the lip portion 30 to the clip device 10 adjacent and against the bottom surface 14 of the clip device 10, as will be described in further detail below. A retaining tab 32 having a retaining protrusion 34 extends from the lip portion 30. The retaining tab 32 and the retaining protrusion 34 further secures the diaphragm hunting call within the clip device, as will be described in further detail below.

As illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, the top surface 12 of the clip device 10 includes a first slot 36 and a second slot 38 along the length of the top surface 12 on each side of the supporting wall 20. Furthermore, the bottom surface 14 of the clip device 10 includes a first slot 40 and a second slot 42 opposite the first slot 36 and the second slot 38 of the top surface 12 along the length of the bottom surface 14. It should be noted, as illustrated in FIG. 2, that the first slot 40 and the second slot 42 of the bottom surface 14 extend through the lip portion 30 around the curved back edge 18 of the clip device 10. The slots 36, 38, 40, 42 of the top surface 12 and the bottom surface 14 allow the clip device 10 to bend and flex to accommodate a variety of brim sizes and curvature when mounting to the brim of the hat. The hunting call is not received within the slots.

Securing the clip device 10 of the present invention to the brim or a hat or the like will now be discussed. As will be understood by a person skilled in the art, the description below is only one manner of securement of the clip device 10 to the brim of the hat and other manners of securement of the clip device 10 are within the scope of the present invention.

First, the clip device 10 of the present invention is positioned adjacent the brim of the hat with the curved back edge 18 adjacent the brim. The clip device 10 is then manipulated such that the brim is releasably received between first clip arm 24 and the second clip arm 26 and the top surface 12 of the clip device 10. The clip device 10 is further moved onto the brim until the brim contacts the supporting wall 20. The protruding portions 28 of the first clip arm 24 and the second clip arm 26 contacts the brim thereby releasably securing the clip device 10 to the brim.

Next, the diaphragm hunting call is slid along the bottom surface 14 of the clip device 10 within the lip portion 30 and under the retaining tab 32. The snug fit between the diaphragm hunting call and the lip portion 30 and the retaining protrusion 34 of the retaining tab 32 releasably maintain the diaphragm hunting call within the clip device 10.

With the clip device 10 of the present invention, the diaphragm hunting call is readily available for use by the hunter. The hunter maintains easy access to the diaphragm hunting call without having to search and retrieve the diaphragm hunting call from an inconvenient location. Furthermore, with the clip device 10 of the present invention, the hunter can retrieve the hunting call without having to place the hunting gun or rifle in an inconvenient or dangerous position.

The foregoing exemplary descriptions and the illustrative preferred embodiments of the present invention have been explained in the drawings and described in detail, with varying modifications and alternative embodiments being taught. While the invention has been so shown, described and illustrated, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that equivalent changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention, and that the scope of the present invention is to be limited only to the claims except as precluded by the prior art. Moreover, the invention as disclosed herein, may be suitably practiced in the absence of the specific elements which are disclosed herein. 

1. A clip device for securing a hunting call to a brim of a hat, the clip device comprising: a main body having a top surface, a bottom surface, a front edge, and a back edge; a supporting wall extending in a perpendicular manner from the top surface; a first groove and a second groove extending linearly along the length of the bottom surface of the main body, the first groove being parallel to the second groove, the first groove and the second groove defining wing portions, the wing portions movable relative to the main body along the first groove and the second groove allowing the clip device to generally conform to any curvature of the brim of the hat, both the first groove and the second groove being free from receiving the hunting call; clip means extending from the supporting wall over the top surface for securing the clip device to the brim of the hat, the clip means being free from contact with the top surface both prior to and subsequent to securement to the brim of the hat; and item retaining means extending substantially along the back edge for releasably securing the hunting call and against the bottom surface of the main body.
 2. The clip device of claim 1 wherein the clip means are a first clip arm and a second clip arm, the first clip arm and the second clip arm extending from the supporting wall in a cantilever manner over the top surface with the first clip arm being spaced from the second clip arm.
 3. The clip device of claim 2 wherein each clip arm includes a protruding portion.
 4. The clip device of claim 1 wherein the item retaining means includes a lip portion defining a tapered slot, the hunting call being held within the tapered slot with friction between the lip portion and the bottom surface.
 5. The clip device of claim 4 wherein the lip portion includes a retaining protrusion extending from the lip portion.
 6. The clip device of claim 5 wherein the retraining protrusion includes a retaining tab.
 7. The clip device of claim 1 and further comprising: a third groove and a fourth groove extending linearly along the length of the top surface, the third groove substantially parallel to the fourth groove, the third groove substantially opposite the first groove and the fourth groove substantially opposite the second groove, both the third groove and the fourth groove being free from receiving the hunting call.
 8. The clip device of claim 1 wherein the first groove and second groove extend through the item retaining means.
 9. The clip device of claim 1 wherein the back edge has a substantially curved configuration.
 10. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the supporting wall extends from the front edge in general direction away from the top surface, the first groove and the second groove positioned on each side of the supporting wall.
 11. An assembly for securing a hunting call to a brim of a hat, the assembly comprising: a main body portion having a top surface and a bottom surface; a first side portion; a second side portion; linear groove means separating the first side portion from the main body portion and the second side portion from the main body portion for allowing the first side portion and the second side portion to move relative to the main body portion, the linear groove means being free from receiving the hunting call; clip means for securing the main body portion to the brim of the hat, the clip means being free from contact with the top surface both prior to and subsequent to securement to the brim of the hat; and item retaining means for releasably securing the hunting call to the main body portion.
 12. The assembly of claim 11 wherein the main body has a front edge and a back edge, and further comprising: a supporting wall extending from the front edge in general direction away from the top surface.
 13. The assembly of claim 11 wherein the clip means include a first clip arm and a second clip arm, the first clip arm and the second clip arm extending from the supporting wall in a cantilever manner over the top surface with the first clip arm being spaced from the second clip arm.
 14. The clip device of claim 13 wherein each clip arm includes a protruding portion.
 15. The assembly of claim 11 wherein the item retaining means is a lip portion, the lip portion extending substantially along a back edge and defining a tapered slot, the hunting call being releasably held within the tapered slot with friction between the lip portion and the bottom surface.
 16. The assembly of claim 15 wherein the lip portion includes a retaining protrusion extending from the lip portion.
 17. The assembly of claim 16 wherein the retraining protrusion includes a retaining tab.
 18. The assembly of claim 11 wherein the groove means includes a first groove formed along the length of the bottom surface, a second groove formed along the length of the bottom surface, the first groove substantially parallel to the second groove, a third groove formed along the length of the top surface, and a fourth groove formed along the length of the top surface, the third groove substantially parallel to the fourth groove, the first groove being substantially opposite the third groove and the second groove being substantially opposite the fourth groove.
 19. The assembly of claim 12 the back edge has a substantially curved configuration.
 20. A clip device for securing a hunting call, the clip device securable to a brim of a hat, the clip device comprising: a main body having a top surface, a bottom surface, a front edge, and a back edge; at least one linear groove extending along the length of the bottom surface of the main body, the linear groove defining a wing portion, the wing portion movable relative to the main body along the linear groove allowing the clip device to generally conform to any curvature of the brim of the hat, each linear groove being free from receiving the hunting call; clip means extending from the supporting wall over the top surface for securing the clip device to the brim of the hat, the clip means being free from contact with the top surface both prior to and subsequent to securement to the brim of the hat; and a tapered slot extending substantially along the back edge for releasably securing the hunting call adjacent and against the bottom surface of the main body. 